Loss of Service Reports: What They Are and When You Need One

When a person has responsibility for the care and support of a family member, their accidental death or severe impairment from injury may result in the need for alternative arrangements to be made for the person they were caring for. In this instance, a Loss of Service Report will be required to establish any replacement services needed to ensure the dependent continues to receive that necessary care.

What exactly is a Loss of Service Report?

A Loss of Service Report details any replacement services and indicative replacement costs following the death or severe impairment of an individual who was a caregiver to a dependent and/or partner or spouse, and who may have been solely responsible for services such as care, personal administration, financial or household management.

The report will evaluate the services the carer provided in the past and those which would have been required in the future, as well as the most appropriate means to replace those services.

A Loss of Service Report provided by Tessa Gough Associates can cover the following scenarios:

• ›Development of an industrial illness affecting an ability to provide services
• ›Delay in diagnosis in respect of the deceased (and where past care also requires valuation)
• ›Loss of service from accidental death

and explore the following:

• ›Where one or more of the dependents (adult or child) has a disability
• ›Loss of childcare and/or gratuitous family care
• ›Personal care
• ›Mobility
• ›Nutrition and food preparation
• ›Household chores and cleaning
• ›Management of medication and treatments
• ›Personal administration and financial management
• ›Psychological care
• ›Gardening services
• ›Decorating services
• ›Household maintenance
• ›Domestic services

How is loss of service assessed?

A Loss of Service Report will be based on any evidence provided, including supporting documentation such as witness statements and historic records. A home-based assessment will also be required to complete the report, unless agreed otherwise.

Tessa Gough Associates expert witnesses are all hand-selected for our panel and experienced in dealing with sensitive assessments. All reports are unbiased and based on facts and evidence obtained by our expert witnesses, and we ensure the highest level of professionalism with every case we take on.

When is a Loss of Service Report required?

A Loss of Service Report may be necessary in many different types of cases for a broad range of dependents. Circumstances that might require a report include:

• ›Death or severe impairment of a spouse
• ›Death or severe impairment of a parent whose child is under 18
• ›Death or severe impairment of the primary caregiver of an individual with disabilities
• ›Death or severe impairment of a family member who serves as a carer for an elderly parent with disabilities and/or dementia

Comparable cases from the news – bin lorry crash, Glasgow

In 2021, a bin lorry crash in Glasgow left six people dead. The driver, who had also become unconscious while driving a bus in 2010, claimed he had told his new employer (the council) that they should speak to his previous employer (the bus company), who would have informed them of the incident. But they failed to do so. Had the council spoken to the bus company and learned of the 2010 incident, it’s likely that Harry Clarke would not have been chosen over the 300 other applicants who applied for the job.

The article reports that “Glasgow City Council’s advocate Andrew Smith QC asked judge Lord Ericht for the cash to compensate the local authority for the funds it paid out to the relatives of those who lost their lives.” In this instance, a Loss of Service Report would be essential in establishing the right and fair amount of compensation owed to the families of those who died in the accident.

An expert witness would look into the lives of the relatives and how losing the deceased would impact their future. This may mean replacing the care given by a parent or carer who died, or having to pay for services such as financial assistance or home maintenance that a spouse had taken sole care of before their passing. A Loss of Service Report would help ensure the correct amount of compensation was paid to the families involved.

How Tessa Gough Associates can help

Our panel of highly experienced expert witnesses includes professionals across a wide variety of disciplines to assist with claimant or defendant claims in a range of circumstances.

We pride ourselves on the delivery of independent and highly detailed reports that ensure the best and most fair outcome for both parties.

If you would like to talk to our team further regarding a Loss of Service Report, please get in touch. Our friendly and knowledgeable team will be able to answer any questions you might have and can guide you through the process of instructing the most suitable expert witness for your case.